Valley Brook Road ramp to shut down May 22

Published May 2, 2013 at 4:54 pm
(Updated May 2, 2013 at 4:54 pm)

The Valley Brook Road ramp in Peters Township will close May 22.
Photo by Terri Johnson/StaffOrder a Print

Drivers using the ramp leading to and from Valley Brook and Washington roads, or those who travel along Valley Brook Road near the ramp in Peters Township will need to find another route, as the roadways will shut down May 22.

That’s when the nightmare will begin for the 11,000 motorists who will scramble to find another route in an effort to avoid the expected gridlock.

An official detour will be posted using Mayview, Boyce, and McMurray roads, all state-owned roads. However, Peters Township officials are preparing for an onslaught of vehicles using unofficial detours through residential streets.

“The township is cognizant of the fact that this will be a major impact on people who travel through it,” said Paul Lauer, assistant township manager.

Township officials will monitor the traffic once the closure occurs and are prepared to place temporary stop or directional signs on township-maintained streets.

“The signs would be in addition to the standard traffic signs that accompany any construction project,” Lauer said.

The project is expected to last until at least July 2014. Initial reports indicated the first closure would occur at the intersection of Old Washington Road and Valley Brook about May 15, with the complete closure not expected until about three weeks later.

The state Department of Transportation did not indicate why the start date for the $4.9 million was moved up. The general contractor is Gulisek Construction Co., said Valerie Petersen, PennDOT spokeswoman.

The project will realign the intersection of Old Washington and Valley Brook roads and will include work on two bridges and two retaining walls.

“The work will also improve the safety of this intersection and improve the flow of traffic through the Route 19 and Valley Brook Road corridors,” Petersen said. Washington Road is also known as Route 19.

Lauer said the construction and road closures will not just affect traffic, but may have an impact on businesses on Valley Brook Road.

Every effort will be made to alert motorists that the businesses will remain open during construction.

No construction projects are expected on the detour route, Lauer said. The Peters Township School District is adjusting bus routes while the closure is in effect.

“Eleven thousand people use Valley Brook every day and that traffic will be placed on other roads and it will have an impact,” Lauer said. “Our intention is to monitor ( traffic) as it occurs and if additional action is necessary, we will be prepared to deal with that.”